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Single Idea 21268
[filed under theme 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 5. Naturalism
]
Full Idea
All natural things can be reduced to one principle, which is nature; and all voluntary things can be reduced to one principle, which is human reason, or will. Therefore God does not exist.
Gist of Idea
Non-human things are explicable naturally, and voluntary things by the will, so God is not needed
Source
Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265], Ia,Q02,Art3,Ob2)
Book Ref
'The Existence of God', ed/tr. Hick,John [Macmillan 1964], p.82
A Reaction
Not, of course, the opinion of Aquinas. So the possibility of naturalism (assuming the human will can be further reduced to nature) was a clear option in the thirteenth century. In reply Aquinas cites his Fifth Way.
Related Idea
Idea 21273
Way 5: mindless things act towards an obvious end, so there is an intelligent director [Aquinas]
The
61 ideas
from 'Summa Theologicae'
22111
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Aquinas attributes freedom to decisions and judgements, and not to the will alone
[Aquinas, by Kretzmann/Stump]
|
22107
|
Sensations are transmitted to 'internal senses' in the brain, chiefly to 'phantasia' and 'imagination'
[Aquinas, by Kretzmann/Stump]
|
8009
|
Aquinas wanted, not to escape desire, but to transform it for moral ends
[Aquinas, by MacIntyre]
|
5508
|
Aquinas says a fertilized egg is not human, and has no immortal soul
[Aquinas, by Martin/Barresi]
|
5614
|
If you assume that there must be a necessary being, you can't say which being has this quality
[Kant on Aquinas]
|
20211
|
Life aims at the Beatific Vision - of perfect happiness, and revealed truth
[Aquinas, by Zagzebski]
|
22106
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Aquinas saw angels as separated forms, rather than as made of 'spiritual matter'
[Aquinas, by Kretzmann/Stump]
|
21251
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We can't know God's essence, so his existence can't be self-evident for us
[Aquinas]
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21248
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If the existence of truth is denied, the 'Truth does not exist' must be true!
[Aquinas]
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21249
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Some things are self-evident to us; others are only self-evident in themselves
[Aquinas]
|
21250
|
A proposition is self-evident if the predicate is included in the essence of the subject
[Aquinas]
|
9092
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Abstracting A from B generates truth, as long as the connection is not denied
[Aquinas]
|
9093
|
We understand the general nature of things by ignoring individual peculiarities
[Aquinas]
|
9097
|
The mind abstracts generalities from images, but also uses images for understanding
[Aquinas]
|
9095
|
Very general ideas (being, oneness, potentiality) can be abstracted from thought matter in general
[Aquinas]
|
9096
|
The mind must produce by its own power an image of the individual species
[Aquinas]
|
9094
|
Mathematical objects abstract both from perceived matter, and from particular substance
[Aquinas]
|
9098
|
Mental activity combines what we sense with imagination of what is not present
[Aquinas]
|
9099
|
Particular instances come first, and (pace Plato) generalisations are abstracted from them
[Aquinas]
|
15812
|
Being implies distinctness, which implies division, unity, and multitude
[Aquinas]
|
23306
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Humans have a non-physical faculty of reason, so they can be immortal
[Aquinas, by Sorabji]
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22399
|
Temperance prevents our passions from acting against reason
[Aquinas]
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22112
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For humans good is accordance with reason, and bad is contrary to reason
[Aquinas]
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22114
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Tyrannical laws are irrational, and so not really laws
[Aquinas]
|
22113
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Right and wrong actions pertain to natural law, as perceived by practical reason
[Aquinas]
|
16687
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Bodies are three-dimensional substances
[Aquinas]
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16765
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Humans only have a single substantial form, which contains the others and acts for them
[Aquinas]
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21337
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A knowing being possesses a further reality, the 'presence' of the thing known
[Aquinas]
|
21266
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God does not exist, because He is infinite and good, and so no evil should be discoverable
[Aquinas]
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21274
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It is part of God's supreme goodness that He brings good even out of evil
[Aquinas]
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21268
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Non-human things are explicable naturally, and voluntary things by the will, so God is not needed
[Aquinas]
|
21267
|
Supposing many principles is superfluous if a few will do it
[Aquinas]
|
21269
|
Way 1: the infinite chain of potential-to-actual movement has to have a first mover
[Aquinas]
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21270
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Way 2: no effect without a cause, and this cannot go back to infinity, so there is First Cause
[Aquinas]
|
21271
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Way 3: contingent beings eventually vanish, so continuity needs a necessary being
[Aquinas]
|
21272
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Way 4: the source of all qualities is their maximum, so something (God) causes all perfections
[Aquinas]
|
21273
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Way 5: mindless things act towards an obvious end, so there is an intelligent director
[Aquinas]
|
22105
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The human intellectual soul is an incorporeal, subsistent principle
[Aquinas]
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22108
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First grasp what it is, then its essential features; judgement is their compounding and division
[Aquinas]
|
7291
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For Aquinas a war must be in a just cause, have proper authority, and aim at good
[Aquinas, by Grayling]
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23173
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If a syllogism admits one absurdity, others must follow
[Aquinas]
|
20224
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Sensation prepares the way for intellectual knowledge, which needs the virtues of reason
[Aquinas]
|
23174
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Natural law is a rational creature's participation in eternal law
[Aquinas]
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23175
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The conclusions of speculative reason about necessities are certain
[Aquinas]
|
23176
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Truth is universal, but knowledge of it is not
[Aquinas]
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4412
|
Those in bliss have their happiness increased by seeing the damned punished
[Aquinas]
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22494
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We must know the end, know that it is the end, and know how to attain it
[Aquinas]
|
23177
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Justice directs our relations with others, because it denotes a kind of equality
[Aquinas]
|
23178
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Divine law commands some things because they are good, while others are good because commanded
[Aquinas]
|
23179
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People differ in their social degrees, and a particular type of right applies to each
[Aquinas]
|
23180
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The will is the rational appetite
[Aquinas]
|
23181
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All acts of virtue relate to justice, which is directed towards the common good
[Aquinas]
|
23182
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Legal justice is supreme, because it directs the other virtues to the common good
[Aquinas]
|
20621
|
Types of lying: Speak lies, intend lies, intend deception, aim at deceptive goal?
[Aquinas, by Tuckness/Wolf]
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10505
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We can just think of an apple's colour, because the apple is not part of the colour's nature
[Aquinas]
|
10504
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Abstracting either treats something as separate, or thinks of it separately
[Aquinas]
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10503
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We abstract forms from appearances, and acquire knowledge of immaterial things
[Aquinas]
|
10506
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Mathematics can be abstracted from sensible matter, and from individual intelligible matter
[Aquinas]
|
10507
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Numbers and shapes are abstracted by ignoring their sensible qualities
[Aquinas]
|
10508
|
Species are abstracted from appearances by ignoring individual conditions
[Aquinas]
|
10509
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Understanding consists entirely of grasping abstracted species
[Aquinas]
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